Wrapping machine



April 8, 1952 G. l. HoHl. ETAL WRAPPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 8, 1947 ,awa/1747447 I April 8, E952 G. l. Hol-n. ETAL 2,592,283

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed April 8, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. l. HOHL ET AL WRAPPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 April s, 1952 Filed April 8, 1947 April 8, 1952 G. l. HoHl. ETAL 2,592,283

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed April s, 1947 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented pr. 8, 1.952

UN I TEDT STATES QFFICEI WRA'PPIN G -MACHINE George Hohl; East'OrangeiFrederickeH Weisen` Cedar-Grove;` Gottlieb A. Rist,s,Newarlr-,A and John M; Rist, A:East: Orange: 4N. J., assignorsto Processing.l Equipment Corporation.. Freehold,4 NI. J.) a...corporation of New YorkA This. .inventionl relates to i' automatic .wrapping machinery; and; the.` invention.- hasf reference, more particularly; to anovel constructionof high speed,v continuous :motion wrappinggmachine..

The invention has. for an' object to provide' a novel construction of wrappingmachinecom'- pris'rng, av continuously rotated wrapping'.I wheel having.;.circumferentially 'spaced pocketsropening outwardly; from', its periphery;y for` the' reception of articles to bewrapped together'fwith Wrapper material' for.V enveloping the same,meanszubeing provided. for. .automatically inserting; .articlesP and wrappermaterial in .successive pocketslof the rotating wrappingwheeL Cmeansfcooperative Vwith the,` -rotating.v wrapping `Wheel' being'Y further` provided1 for manipulating, the Wrapper. material, whereby toA envelopl the rarticles therein,^N and means being also provided for ejecting, the

` wrappedarticles from the'isiockets.oiivthev rotating wrappingwheel..`

The` invention. has :for another object to provide Ameans Vcooperative lwith the wrapping wheel and. theameans for inserting articles int-o the pockets of said .wheel wherebyto -deliverzwrapper materialfforapplication. to` eacharticlefdelivered to and inserted.A Within the. Wrapping., wheel pockets.'

Another obfject" ofthe invention isto. provide in'connection with` the pockets .oflthe wrapping wheel means 'for rmly gripping` andhol'dingth'e articles and wrapper' material' entered 'l therein against'displacementjandsubject to th'e operatiOns-Of'Wrapper material foldingdevices which cooperate' with the rotating,- wrapping; wheel.

Other' objects 'off thi's"'invention,1 n'otVv at. this timef'm'ore` particularly' enumeratedgwilllie. understood from' the' followingj description of."` the same.-AA

An'illustrativeembodimentoftheinvention is shown in the accompanying"drawings;in which:

Fig.- 14 isla' side elevational viewi'with `parts'in section' showing the-'wrapping machine of ithis invention.

Fig. 2 is'faV fragmentaryhorizontal sectional view'tak'enon'lihe-12L-2- in'Fig. 1, but vdrawn'l'on an enlargie'd' scale, showingthe' yinitial "position ofv means: for 'insertingv an'k article-ftogether" with wrapperzsmaterial? into' a pocketl ofVIA the VWrapping whee1;:and Fig.; 3 is 'a'. vertical longitudinal sectional f view; taken' on' line 3-3 -in Fig. 2.

Fig.' 4 is'afview similar `toV that of Fig; 2; but showing.V theposition of the' means' for 'inserting anarticle together with wrapping, material. into apocket of thewrapping'wheel' 'as' disposed at the'end 'ofil its operative"L stroke;V and' Figfif isia 2j vertical longitudinal. sectionaL view... taken.A on line 5+-5in Fig. 4:.u

1'ig.6 is .La fragmentary; verticalY sectional view of the ,.wrapping.. WheeLand associated. partscooperative therewith .to` produce initialsfolds oflthe wrapper .material abouta-n article:` carried 'ina WrappingWheeLpocketn FM'TS: a fragmentary sid..elevation view.v of means` cooperative.. with ,.tl'ie; wrapping wheel'- to produce initial end folds .of lthe. 4wrapper. .material about the' carried article; Fig. .8.s ,attop .planmv-iew of Said initial end fold.,.prodcing meanspaspositionedf in .Fig...7 and'llg'.-Qaisjayw similar to thatioffl'igi. r7"shovvix"ig.a11.advanced.'positionof said initial end .fold`lprodcingg-means.

Figi." 10"i`s a fragmentarm side llelevationallviw of "means cooperativewith'; tiewrapping wheel to producefurther"end-folds of'ltl'ic .wrapper` ma! teri'al aboutthe carriedqarticles.

Figi .11 isi a' fragmentary` Side. elevationallview offmeanscooperative. wthkthe Wrapping wheel fr"completin'g; the end'..f1d`s ofi' theVv wrapper material about" the carried:` article; fandjEig. 12 is "a' horizontal "sectional View ofithe same, ,taken on-line'ilZLI'Zin'Fig 11.

Fig.; .13` isa' fragmentary',v side -elevationalview of v'means'for'ejecting;Wrapped .'arti'clesrfr'om. the pockets*iof""the"'wrapping Wheel..

Similar "characterszof" referenceare employed inA the above' described ,viwsg' to indicate. cor.- respondingparts.'

ReferringY to'the" drawings; the illustrativeaembodi'menty ofthi'sA inventionshown thereby islsized an'ddesigned'ior"'wrapping.candy pieces or tab',- lets fr ory similar articles," but itwill' be.` understood that, without substantial departure fromv ab1e'-' power" transmission" means `(not-shown).

pocket forming notches 23 of the respective wheel members are disposed in transverse alignment, whereby to cooperate in forming a series of equispaced article and wrapper material receiving pockets around the wrapping wheel circumference. Each wheel member 22 is provided with radial slots 24 which respectively border corresponding sides of the respective pocket forming notches 23.

Pivotally supported on the respective outer ends of transverse fulcrum pins 25, which are mounted to extend through and between the wheel members 22 inwardly of or behind the inner ends of the radial slots 24, are gripper members 26. Said gripper members are thus mounted on the external faces of the wheel members 22. Each gripper member 2B is provided with an outwardly extending, inwardly offset gripper jaw 21 which is housed in a slot 24 so as to oppose one side of a pocket forming notch 23 to which it is contiguous. The slots 24, in which said gripper jaws are housed, are of widths exceeding the widths or thicknesses of said gripper jaws 21, whereby the latter may swing toward and from the pockets, being yieldably urged toward the latter by compression spring elements 28. Said compression spring elements 28 are supported in sockets 29 formed in the bodies of the gripper jaws to Yopen toward slot sides opposed to the sockets in the faces of said gripper jaws 21.

Opposed to the wrapping wheel, in the plane thereof but spaced a suitable distance from the periphery thereof, is means for delivering articles to be wrapped subject to transfer t and insertion into the pockets of said wrapping wheel. One illustrative form of said delivery means as shown comprises a rotated delivery wheel 30 which is mounted on a drive shaft 3|. The periphery of said delivery wheel 30 is provided with a circumferential channel 32 of suitable depth and of a width conforming to the length or width, as the case may be, of articles to be operated upon. Running over the periphery of said delivery wheel 30. within the channel 32 thereof, is a conveyer belt 33, the top or receiving courseA of which advances to the delivery wheel through a correspondingly channeled loading table 34. The articles to be operated upon are passed from a supply thereof, deposited upon the surface of the loading table 34, into the channel of the latter so as to lodge on and form a train thereof upon the conveyer belt 33. whereby to be advanced with the latter over the delivery wheel.

Cooperative with the delivery wheel 30 and the conveyer belt 33 thereon is means adapted to remove the larticles from said conveyer belt for .delivery to a transferl means which successively carries the same to and inserts them into successive pockets of the wrapping wheel. The means for thus removing articles from the -conveyer belt 33 comprises a stationary chute 35 which is suitably supported intermediate the delivery wheel and the wrapping wheel. The upper or receiving end portion 35 of said chute curves inwardly toward the delivery wheel so that its extremity is in contact with the periphery of said delivery wheel and with the surface of the conveyer belt 33 substantially tangential thereto and in descending extension therefrom. The lower or discharge end portion 36 of the chute terminates above a transfer mechanism which is mounted to oscillate between the delivery wheel and the wrapping wheel. The articles advanced by the conveyer belt 33, upon arrival at the chute, are deflected by the receiving end portion of said chute so as to be removed frorn the conveyer belt, and thence to move, under gravity, downwardly through to chute to the transfer mechanism.

The transfer mechanism is a very important part of this mechanism, since by its oscillations. Which are automatically controlled in timed relation to the movement of the pockets of the continuously rotated wrapping wheel to a predetermined article receiving point, the articles to be wrapped are not only carried to the wrapping wheel but are successively inserted in successive pockets thereof Without necessity for interrupting its continuous rotary motion. Said transfer mechanism comprises an oscillator arm 31 carried by a rock-shaft 38 so as to extend upwardly between the delivery wheel and the wrapping wheel. The oscillatory movements of said oscillator arm 31 are produced and properly timed by a rotated control cam 39 which actuates a crank-arm 40 that is aixed to and extends from said rock-shaft 38; said crank-arm having an anti-friction roller 4| which engages the periphery of said control cam. The roller 4l of the crank-arm 40 may be caused to yieldably follow the control cam 39 by any suitable means. One illustrative form of means for this purpose. as shown, comprises a rocker member 42 which is pivotally mounted in connection with a supporting or bearing standard 43. One arm 44 of said rocker member 42 yieldably thrusts upon an anti-friction roller 45 of a keeper lever 46, which extends from the rock-shaft 38. under the urge of compression spring means 41 which is operative upon the opposite arm 48 of said rocker member.

The article delivered to the transfer mechanism, in the illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown, comprises a candy piece C, and will be so referred to hereinafter for convenience of description but without limiting intent. The upper or free end of the oscillator arm 31 is provided with means for supporting a candy piece C. whereby to carry the same to the wrapping wheel, and thereupon insert the candy piece into a receiving pocket of the latter. Said means is best shown in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive of the drawings, wherein, for better illustration and understanding of its mode of operation, the movement of said means is shown as if in rectilinear plane rather than in the actual arcuate plane as occurs in practice, and which will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 1. Said means comprises a head portion 49 in which the upper end of the oscillator arm 31 terminates. Integral with and above said head portion 49 is an impeller member 5U, the forward end portion 5i of which projects freely beyond the head portion 49. Said impeller member 50 substantially corresponds in width to the width or length, as the case may be, of the candy piece C, and terminates at its forward extremity in a thrust face 52 which is operative to abut a candy piece so as to forwardly propel the same toward the wrapping wheel during forward swinging movement of the oscillator arm 31. Beneath the impeller member 50, said head portion 49 is provided in its opposite side faces with longitudinal guide channels or ways 53. Mounted beneath said impeller member 50. subject to longitudinal movements relative thereto, is a platform plate 54 provided with a bifurcate rear end portion, the legs 55 of which straddl'e the head portion 49 so as to be respecv'are cut away Vat B2 to provide clearance for 55 l'tively slidably supported in said :guilde :channels or ways 53. The platform plate cis of a width substantially *exceeding vthe widths of the head portion 49 and impeller member l50.. Adjacent to its forward extremity, said platform plate 54 is provided with upstanding keeper vlugs 56 which areso spaced, transversely of the platform plate, 'as tostraddlelthe impeller member V50 and a `candy piece C, when said candy piece is deposited upon lsaid platform plate in front 'of the limpeller member, whereby to retain said `candy piece in alignlment with the latter. Pivotally fconne'cted with `the platform 54, at points adjacent to its :rearward Send fso as to respectively extend forwardly along the underfac'e of said platform plate `and respectively exteriorly lof the opposite .sides lof v:the lhead portion '49 and impeller member 50, :are fa pair of laterally swingable k.gripper elements 51. The forward endportionsof the gripper elements 51 terminate in outwardly offset, upwardly projecting 'arms 158 which, in tturn, .terminate .in

yforward extensions 59 disposed ina plane 'above v'the top surface of the platform 'plate 54. .Connected with the outer ends of said extensions 59 are inwardly and laterally projecting gripper jaws 60, `which cross in front of the aforesaid keeper vlugs 56. The free ends of said gripper 'jaws '59 'terminate in `ohamfered Ajaw faces 61. The side marginal portions of the platform plate the arms 58 of said gripper elements. `Depende'nt from the under lface of the platform plate 54, at the respective opposite sides thereof and rex- 'teriorly of the rearward portions of said gripper elements 51, are abutment lugs '53 to purchase compression springs 64 for yieldable vin-swingi'ng `vthrust upon said gripper elements. Said gripper elements 51 straddle the head portion 49, and

are provided on their inner sides, 4for normal disposition rvin front of the forward end of said head portion when the platform plate 54 occupies its forwardly disposed candy piece supporting position, with cam portions 65. Said cam portions 65 are vadapted to be engaged by said head portion, when the 'platform 'plate 54 is rearwardly .'moved relative thereto land to said impeller member 50, whereby to induce outswinging 'movements-of the `'gripper jaws 50 frominitial holding `relation to a candy piece C which is supported by vthe advanced''platform` "plate infront of "said impeller member 50. The platform plate l54 is provided withnieans for controlling/and timing itslongitudinal movements 'relative to the 'head portion 49 and vimpeller :member 50. This means .includes :a stop ear B6 disposed to project'laterally 'from .the vrearward end portion ofthe platform -plate at .one side thereof and preferably at .both sides thereof. Dependent from the dischargeie'nd portion 36 of the chute 35, at one tor both :sides `thereof' -as the case may be, is la stop finger 61 with which a `stop .ear 66 of the platform plate 54 cooperates at proper times, as will presently appear.

.By Vits rearward `swinging movement, the oscillator arm 31 .carries the head portion 49 and im'- peller member 5l) into stopped relation contigu- -ous .to the delivery wheel 39, during which movement the rear end of the then retracted platform plate 54 is carried into :engagement with the periphery of the delivery wheel 30, .so that `rearward movement of said platform plate, in company with the he'ad portion 49 Eand impeller member 50., -is arrested while rearward "movement `of the head .portion and impeller'member con-g `ment vof the platform `plate relative `to the head portion and impeller "member, whereby the :forward end portion lof the platform .plate is projected beyond the thrust face A52 of the .impeller member 50, being thus disposed to receive and lsupport a candy piece vC deposited thereon from 'the chute 35 It will be understood that fthe 'top `face of the :impeller member 5U, .as it 'moves vbeneath the mouth y'of the discharge :end of the-chute 35, :operates as .detent Lmeans for holding candy pieces contained in the chute .against discharge.

As thefpla'tform plate L54 is .advanced 5to V'candy Lpiecetreceiving and supporting position, the rear- `ward movement of .the impeller .member l50 will carry ,its .thrust face V52 past 'the discharge imouth :of the :chute 35, fso :that fa .candy Ipiece-:C -may .drop from :the.latter` onto .the .platform plate l54 between .the keeper lugs 56 'andin frontofsaid thrust 'face '52 :of'the impeller member. .By the time lthe .candy piece "is :so deposited, .the cam portions y of `l.the gripper .elements .'51 `will be disengaged by the rearwardly .moving head portion 549,-'thus permitting .said gripper .elements to swing Yinwardly under the impulsion of 'their springs 64, and thereby 'lto .close the gripper jaws 6.9 :in .holding relation .to .the deposited candy piece. The transfer .mechanism .being thus loaded is .ready 'to make .its ,ensuing .swing `toward the Awrapping wheel, lwhereby to .deliver "the carried candy piece thereto (see Figs. `2 ands)1 .Means is provided for 'delivering wrapper ma'- terial between .the retracted transfer mechanism 'and .the wrapping wheel. The wrappertmaterial vmay be .of any suitable kind, .such e. g.. as transparent :cellulose or cellophane, waxed paper or ordinary paper. .It is preferable rto supply'the Wrapper material, which :is .indicated .bythe reference character W, in .the vform :of a continuous web of :suitableiwidth adapted to be drawn from a :suitably positioned supply vroll 68 by a pair of feed rollers 4(i9, through the nip of which the web is passed. From the feed rollers `69, thewra'pper materialipasses through :cutting .means which, V'as illustratively shown, Acomprises a stationary knife 10 and a 'rotary knife -1I which is cooperative therewith. The rotary knife '1I is driven insultably timed relation to fthe :coordinated movements :of :the lwrapping wheel and transfer mechanism, so las to sever from .the web aseotion of the `wrapper' v`material which is adapted to provide 'an .individual wrapper `subjectto engagement between a candy piece TC .as "advanced vby the transfer mechanism and means for holding the wrapper relative to said candy piece :un-

ntil .the latterand :said wrapper Jare ultimately vtogether inserted in a receiving pocket rofthewrap- :ping wheel; yThe means Afor thus holding the vwrapper :inyengagement'with Tan 'advancing candy piece .comprises a pivoted retainer member 12 which extends through the space intermediate the :side sections of the wrapping wheel Iso 'that .its ,gripping .nose .13 isropposed to .the candyp'iece vC which ris carriedxand fa'dvanc'ed by the -trans-- afer mechamsm. :Said 'retainer 'member 1,'2 'is yieldablyioutswung 't'crnormally project its gripping nose 13 beyond the 'periphery of the wrapping wheel, and to this end "is controlled by a crank arm 14 to which is Aconnected aV pull spring T5 '(see'Fig. l). Y

As arranged for coordinated vrelativev movements, as a receiving ,pocket of thecontinuously rotated wrapping wheel moves toward a ,p'oint 'opposite `the 'transfer mechanism "the 'forward @weg results fm la lforward :sliding imove- "75 'movement of `the latter is occurring, so 'that a f Fig. 4).

candy piece C is advanced toward the wrapping wheel. The advancing candy piece first engages the wrapper, so that the latter is pushed against the gripping nose 13 of the yieldable retainer member 12, at which moment the wrapper section is severed from the web of wrapper material by the cutting means -1I. The transfer mechanism is timed to complete its candy piece advancing stroke at the moment a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel reaches alignment with and opposes the candy piece, and consequently theimpellerfmember 50 of the translfer mechanism pushes the candy piece, together with the wrapper into said receiving pocket (see Figs. 4 and 5). Just before the candy piece is thus entered in a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel. and before the advancing movement of the head portion 49 and impeller member-50 is completed, the stop ear means 66 of the then -advanced platform plate 54 abuts the stationary stop finger means 61, thus arresting forward movement of the platform plate in company with the head portion 49 and impeller member 50, which results in a retractive sliding movement of the platform plate relative to these parts, thus withdrawing said platform plate from its initially advanced position. Thereafter continued forward movement of the head portion 49 passes the same between and into engagement with the cam portions 65 A.of the gripper elements 51, thereby outswinging the latter so as to withdraw the gripper jaws 60 from the candy piece C and out of the path of movement of said candy piece as it continues to move on under the propulsion of the impeller member 50, and ultimately into a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel (see vSuch arresting of the platform plate 54 also restrains the same from engaging or interfering with the rotating wrapping wheel, and allows the impeller member 50 to advance freely beyond the forward end of the platform plate so as to remove the candy piece therefrom, and thereupon complete propulsion of the candy piece into a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel (see Figs. 4 and 5). Immediately the candy piece and wrapper thereforv is thus deposited in a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel, the transfer mechanism is retracted to initial back swung position, whereby to condition the same for the reception and support of another candy piece, in the manner already hereinabove described, ready to be advanced and delivered to a succeeding receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel by repetition of the operations immediately above described;

It will be understood that the tensionally yieldable gripper jaws 21 which bor'der eacl receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel will yield'to the entrance of candy pieces and associated wrappers into said receiving pockets. Said yieldable gripper jaws 21 not only accommodate the receiving pockets in compensation for any slight variations which may occur in size of the candy pieces, but also, by their tensional thrust, serve to grip the candy pieces and wrappers between pocketwalls, so as to firmly and securely hold the same against accidental shift lin or displacement from the pockets.

It will be obvious that, as a candypiece entering a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel pushes the wrapper therewith into said pocket the wrapper will be initially folded about the back and sides of the candy piece which are contiguous to the pocket walls, and that front aps of the wrapper, viz. a trailing front flap f and a leading front flap f', will project radially in extension from the periphery of, the wrapping wheel, while end portions e of the wrapper will project laterally outward in extension from the external sides of the wrapping wheel.

After the candy piece with its wrapper is deposited in a receiving pocket ofthe wrapping wheel. said candy piece and wrapper assembly is moved by the rotation of the wrapping wheel so as to successively pass various means whereby the folding of the wrapper entirely about the candy piece is accomplished. Preparatory to movement relative to said various wrapper folding means, a down-folding of the trailing front flap f of the wrapper over the outer face of the deposited candy piece isy eiiected. The means for thus down-folding said trailing front flap f comprises a folding blade 16 which is carried at the end of an oscillatable lever member 11, so as to extend tranversely across the periphery of the wrapping wheel above the point occupied by a receiving pocket thereof at which a candy piece with its wrapper is entered in said pocket. Said lever member 11 is pivoted to swing about the axis of rotation of the wrapping wheel, and its oscillations are produced and properly timed by a rotating cam wheel 18. Said lever member 11 vis provided with an angularly extending arm 19 having an anti-friction roller which rides upon the periphery of said cam wheel 18, where- .by to effect the operative movements of said lever member 11 and folding blade 16 carried thereby.

Immediately the candy piece with its wrapper is deposited in a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel, the folding blade 16 is timed to make an operative down stroke which carries it against the trailing front flap f so as to swing down said iiap, and thus fold it flatly against and across the outer face of the candy piece `(see Fig. 6). i

Extending for a suitable distance along and contiguous to the periphery of the wrapping wheel, from a point adjacent that at which a pocket of the latter receives a candy piece with its wrapper, is a stationary combined folding and keeper plate 8l, the width of which substantially corresponds to the width of the wrapping wheel. As the candy piece is carried along by the rotation of the wrapping wheel beneath said folding and keeper plate 8|, the leading front flap f will be moved against the forward end thereof so as to be turned over thereby flatly across the outer face of the candy piece; and so as to lap the previously folded trailing front flap ,f (see Fig. 6). It will be understood that, as movement of the candy piece and wrapper relative to said stationary folding and keeper plate 8l continues, said plate serves to retain said aps f and f in their described folded relation to the candy piece, while the ends e of the wrap,- per project beyond the lateral margins of said folding and keeper plate, so as to be engageable by'means operative to form the necessary tucks and folds therein by which the ends of the candy piece are embraced and covered.

Bordering the folding and keeper plate 8l, in a selected advanced position beyond the point at which a pocket of the wrapping wheel receives a candy piece with its wrapper, is means for tucking and down folding the trailing sides of the laterally extending ends e of the wrapper. This means comprises revolving arms 82 respectively disposed adjacent each side of the wrapping wheel, so as to -revolve in planes parallel to thatiof the wrapping wheel. Said arms 82;, asviewed in Figs. 1', 7 and'9, revolvein counter-clockwise direction, and thus oppositely to the rotation of the wrapping wheel, which is in: clockwise direction as lviewed in the same-iigures.y Aixed to each revolving arm 82, at a side; thereof which opposes the adjacent face of thev wrapping wheel, is a tucker linger 83. Said` tucker finger 83 lies in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the adjacent face. of the wrapping wheel, and projects forwardly, i. e. in the direction of rotation of the arm 82.` Also aiixed to each revolving arm 82 is a folder finger 84, which also projects forwardly, i. e. in the directionof rotation of the arm 82. Said folder linger 84 lies in substantially'the same plane'. as that of the tucker finger 83, but is suitably out.- wardlyl spaced and somewhat rearwardly oiset therefrom, so that its, folding effect upon a wrapper end c occurs subsequent to the tucking effect of the tucker finger 83 .upon said wrapper end e.A

As a candy pieceand associated wrapper is carried lby the wrapping wheel past the revolving arms 82, the speed of revolution of the latter is so timed relative to the rotary progress of they wrapping wheel that the tucker lingers 83 are rapidly carried against the trailing sides of the projecting wrapper ends e so as to first tuck inward the vertical faces thereof against the adjacent end of the candy piece (see Fig. 7). Following this, the continuing revolution of the arms 82 carries the folder fingers 84 over and downwardly against the horizontally extending portions of the wrapper ends e at points adjacent to the trailing sides of the latter, thereby down folding these portions of the wrapper ends relative to the ends of the candy piece (see Fig. 9).. These operations leave the leading sides of the wrapper ends e still in somewhat outwardly projecting extension (again see Fig. 9).

Beyond the above described revolving tucking and folding means, additional means is prdvided for completing the in-folding and down-fold-r ing of the leadingl sides of the wrapper ends e. This latter means comprises suitably supported stationary folder plates 85 which lap the external side marginal portions of the wrapping wheel andl the forward end portion of the folding and keeper plate 8| in suitably spaced contiguous relation thereto. Each folder plate 85 is provided at its rearward end with a downwardly and. forwardly inclined vertical plow portion 8 8, which preferably terminates at its 4upper or inner end in a rearwardly projecting undercut nosing 8l; the latter being so disposed asA to intersect and overhang thev plane of the bottom of a receiving pocket, of the wrapping wheel, when said pocket is advanced by rotation of the wrapping wheel past the rearward end of said folder plate 85.

After the candy piece and associated wrapper, as advanced -by the wrapping wheel, leaves the revolving tucking and foldingy means, the leading sides of' the wrapper ends ev are carried into en-` gagement with the folder plates 85 soas to pass beneath the nosings 8l, and thence in passing engagement with the plow portions 86 and behind the bodies of said, folder plates, all whereby said leading sides of the wrapper ends e are both in-turned and down-turned to extend, somewhat diagonally across and in parallel plane. relative to4 the ends of the candy piece, and so as to lap the previously down-folded portionsof the trailing sides of; said wrapper ends e., thus leaving free 10y end portions or tabs t of the folded wrapper material projecting beyond the ends of the candy piece and right angularly to the outer face plane thereof (see Fig. 10).

Provided in connection with the forward end portions of said folder plates 85, so as to extend therebetween in curved plane corresponding to the curvature of the wrapping wheel periphery, and disposed so as to be spaced contiguous to the latter, is a wrapper tab end folder plate 88. Said tab end folder plate 88, as thus bridging between the folder plates 85, may be formed, if desired, to be integral therewith. Said tab end folder plate 88 `begins adjacent to the forward end of the folding and keeper plate 8|. The rearward portion of the tab end folder plate 88, which opposes the adjacent end of the folding and keeper plate 8|, is shaped to provide an open substantially V-shaped mouth 89, the sides of which are formed to provide 4chamfered turn-over plow sections 9D which converge upon the medial line or axis of the tab end folder plate body (see Fig. 12).

After the down-folded tab ends t of the wrapper have been formed, advance of the thus partially wrapped candy piece by the wrapping wheel carries said tab ends respectively into passing engagement with the respective turn-over plow sections 90, by which the same are up-swung and in-turned to overlie the outer face of the candy piece and the enclosing lapped wrapper folds f and f', thereby completing the wrapper folding operations (see Fig. 11). The thus folded tab ends t are carried on beneath the body of the plate 88, so as to be held thereby in their folded positions. a

Means is provided for sealing down the folded tab ends t. Means for this purpose may be various in kind and location according to the particular character of wrapper material employed. In the illustrative embodiment of the machine of this invention as shown, the sealing means is of a kind and is so located as to operate upon heat scalable wrapping material, such e. g. as cellophane, which is the preferred kind of wrapping material. The sealing means therefore, as shown (see Fig. 1)', is located adjacent to forward terminus of the tab end folder plate 89, and comprises an electrically heated sealing iron 9 Iv which is adapted to be brought in contact with the folded tab ends t, so that theA heat applied to the latter'will thereby cause said tab ends to adhere to the: underlying wrapper folds f and f'. Preferably said sealing iron is pivoted on a support 92 so that, byl suitable actuating means (not shown), it may be swung inward for momentary pressure Contact with the wrapped candy piece passing thereunder, and thereafter relaxed.

Extending along the periphery of the wrapping wheel, from said sealing means tov a point adjacent that at which wrapped candy pieces are to bey discharged. from the pockets of. said Wrapping wheel, is a keeper plate S3'.

Means is provided forv automatically dischargp ingthe wrapped candy pieces, as the pockets of the Wrapping wheel containing the same arrive at a predetermined point in the-orbit of the wheel periphery. Said means, in one illustrative form thereof as shown, vcomprises an oscillatable ejector membery 94 which is pivotally suspended from a stationary bracket 95,l so that its free end portion extends downwardly between the wrapping wheel members 22, and normally behind a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel where it passes the. predetermined discharge, point inthe wrapping wheel orbit. Extending outwardly, at said predetermined discharge point, from the wrapping wheel periphery is a channeled runway 96 into which the ejected wrapped candy pieces are successively discharged. Suitable means is provided for producing timed oscillation of said ejector member 94, which, illustratively, comprises a reciprocable link 91 having at its rearward end a slotted head 98 slidably supported on a guide block 99, which is, in turn, immovably supported on a shaft by which an actuating cam |0| is rotated. The cam |0| bears against a thrust stud in the form of an anti-friction roller |02, which is mounted on the head 98 of the reciprocable link. A compression spring |03 mounted between the outer end of the head 98 and the guide block 99 causes the roller |02 to follow the cam |0|, so that desired reciprocation of the link 91 by the latter is assured. It will be understood that any other suitable means may be provided whereby to cause the link 91 to follow the cam subject to the reciprocatingr effect thereof. The outer end of the reciprocable link 91 is pivotally connected with a pivoted rocker arm |04, to which is also pivotally connected one end of a connecting link |05. The opposite or outer end of said connecting link |05 is pivotally connected with the ejector member 94 so as to impart its movement thereto, and thus effect timed oscillation of said ejector member. In operation, as a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel approaches the point at which it is desired to discharge a wrapped candy piece therefrom, said wrapped candy piece will be carried in front of the retracted ejector member 94 (see Fig. l), and as said discharge point is reached, the ejector member actuating mechanism is timed to cause a forward swing of said ejector member, whereby the latter engages and pushes the wrapped candy piece out of the wrapping wheel pocket and deposits it within the runway 96 (see Fig. 13), the ejector member being thereupon immediately retracted to normal initial position. These operations are repeated as each wrapped candy piece containing pocket reaches the said discharge point in the wrapping wheel orbit. j

From the above description it will be apparent that the machine of this invention is of the continuous rotary type, wherein the wrapper folding manipulations are performed by agencies lying adjacent to the orbit of the peripheral portions of the wrapping wheel, and are operative without necessity for interrupting the rotary motion of the wrapping wheel. It will also be apparent that the means for introducing into. the wrapping wheel pockets the articles to be wrapped together with wrapper material therefor is so devised that it also functions in a positive and rapid manner likewise without necessity for interrupting the rotary motion of the wrapping wheel. It will therefore be understood that a very compact and yet rapid and eflicient wrapping machine is provided by this invention.

We are aware that many changes could be made in the described mechanisms and details of construction thereof Aas shown in the accompanying drawings without departing from the scope of this invention as defined by the following claims. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a wrapping machine having a continuously rotated wrapping wheel provided with circumferentially spaced pockets opening radially and laterally from the peripheral portions thereof for the reception of articles to be wrapped and wrappers therefor, together with means for producing longitudinal folds of the wrapper over an article lodged in a wrapping wheel pocket; the combination with said wrapping wheel of wrapper folding means bordering opposite side marginal portions thereof operative to fold the remaining laterally projecting wrapper portions about the articles, said latter means comprising revolvable arms adapted to be rotated in planes parallel to and respectively adjacent opposite sides of the wrapping wheel, each arm having a leading tucker nger and a following folder finger outwardly and rearwardly offset from said tucker finger, said tucker fingers being adapted to first tuck in trailing sides of the laterally projecting wrapper portions and said folder fingers being thereafter adapted to fold down said wrapper portions across the ends of the article, and stationary means disposed beyond said arms adjacent the sides and periphery of the wrapping wheel operative to fold the leading sides of said laterally projecting wrapper portions over the tucked and down-folded trailing sides of the latter, said last mentioned means including additional means adapted to turnY the free end portions of the thus formed wrapper folds inwardly across the outer face of the wrapped article.

2. In a wrapping machine having a continuously rotated wrapping wheel provided with circumferentially spaced pockets opening radially and laterally from the peripheral portions thereof for the reception of articles to be wrapped and wrappers therefor, together with means for producing longitudinal folds of the wrapper over an article lodged in a wrapping wheel pocket; the combination with said wrapping wheel of wrapper folding means bordering opposite side marginal portions thereof operative to fold the remaining laterally projecting wrapper portions about the articles, said latter means comprising revolvable arms adapted to be rotated in planes parallel to and respectively adjacent opposite sides of the wrapping wheel, each arm having a leading tucker nger and a following folder iinger outwardly and rearwardly oset from said tucker finger, said tucker fingers being adapted to rst tuck in trailing sides of the laterally projecting wrapper portions and said folder fingers being thereafter adapted to fold down said wrapper portions across the ends of the article, stationary folder plates beyond said arms respectively adjacent to opposite side marginal portions of the wrapping wheel in planes parallel thereto, said folder plates being operative to fold the leading sides of said laterally projecting wrapper portions over the tucked and down-folded trailing sides of the latter, and another stationary folder plate disposed adjacent and parallel to the wrapping wheel periphery, said last mentioned folder plate having convergent plow sections operative to turn the free end portions of the formed wrapper folds inwardly across the outer face of the wrapped article.

3. In a wrapping machine as defined in claim 2, means to successively eject the wrapped articles from the wrapping wheel pockets.

4. In a wrapping machine as defined in claim 3. including an article delivery chute opposed to the wrapping wheel, and an oscillatable article transfer means movable between the chute and wrapping wheel operative to insert articles received from said chute together with Wrappers therefor 13 successively into successive pockets of the wheel While the'latter is in motion.

5. In a, Wrapping machine as defined in claim 1, means to successively eject, the wrapped articles from the Wrapping wheel pockets.

GEORGE I. HOI-IL. FREDERICK H. WEISE. GOTTLIEB A. RIST. JOHN M. RIST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number f 14 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Armstrong Apr. 26, 1927 Smith et a1. Nov. 5, 1929 Grover Apr. 17, 1934 Van Buren Dec. 18, 1934 Milmoe Jan. 5, 1937 Milmoe et a1 Nov. 14, 1939 Paynter July 6, 1943 Malhiot Sept. 10, 1946 

